I am a child of the 50s. I grew up B movies – especially the spooky ones. They were great, even though by today’s standards they were silly and not in the least bit frightening. But for that time, we enjoyed them.

Here in America, the sole purpose of October first is to start the process to get to October 31st – Halloween. Americans are crazy for Halloween. There’s candy to be bought, parties to organize, foods to cook, costumes to get, music to find, decorations to be purchased … it’s a process; we love it. Oh! And don’t forget the decorations!

But of all the horror movies I’ve seen and all the horror stories I’ve read, there is nothing more horrifying than this: And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. And the Lord turned, and looked at Peter.*

That look. It makes me shudder thinking about it. That look. My horror of the Lord looking at me that way – I can’t even give it voice. This was Jesus – God with us. It would not have been a look of hatred or anger. It would have been a look of resigned affirmation; He knew what Peter would do – He even told Peter he would do it. But once again, we humans let Him down. Peter could have been a hero; he could have told those people who charged him with knowing Jesus that Jesus was his and he was Jesus’s. We can all say that but in the face of possible death, as Peter assumed would happen to him? I pray I never am put in that situation but I am not so ignorant of the world that I don’t know Christians around the world are facing that exact situation now – today.

I will, one day, see Jesus face to face. What will I see? Will it be a face of love and joy and welcome; or will it be that most horrifying, haunting face of all – resigned affirmation.

Good Lord, deliver me.

*St. Luke 22:60-61